Our Mission

 To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.

Luke 15.7 records, Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.

For many Christians, God’s words in this lesson are offensive. God in Jesus, in this chapter of the Bible, tells three stories all making the same point. In the last story, the Christians portrayed by the oldest son, are offended by God’s doings. What is offensive to Christians in these stories?

It is not all Christians who are offended either, only those who are not actively obeying His command to go and make disciples. Those Christians who don’t understand why they are left here on earth instead of being taken immediately to heaven, those who don’t realize they are fishers of men, those who don’t understand their purpose is to seek and save the lost are offended by God. The offense?

God takes greater delight over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good Christians who are not working at building His kingdom. The harvest is plentiful. Few would argue the world increasingly demonstrates its need for a Savior. The workers are few.

Blessed is the man whose hand is firmly fixed to the plow and doesn’t look back to his old way of life from which he repented in order to follow Jesus. Jesus invites us to follow Him and those who know Him, serve Him. God has always been at work in the world. What is His work?

The work of God is to believe in Him and the One Whom He sent. This belief is a total and radical commitment to the ways of God in order to accomplish the work of God.

Those who bring joy to God, those who are welcomed as hero’s in heaven, are those who have worked heartily to see people born again into eternal life.

His Opportunities

1. CBMC is trying something new in 2018: Monday Manna live. 10.00am Mike will explain today’s scripture in person. Catch it here
   
   
2. CBMC’s first special luncheon of the year is March 29th. Our speaker is Deloitte CFO Pete Shimer. Register HERE
   
   
3. CEO’s, are you looking for a private group of fellow business owners for encouragement, support, and advice? CBMC offers such a group.  Contact Mike at mwinter@cbmc.com for more information
   
   
4. CBMC is looking for more ministry partners in 2018. Join the Team Today.  COMMIT now.

 CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

March 5, 2018

Being ‘Here to Serve’

by Jim Langley

For nearly 20 years, I have been signing off on emails and letters with the phrase, “Here to Serve.” This began as I anticipated presiding over a 70-plus member Kiwanis Club. I wanted to communicate to our membership what I believed about our role as a service organization.

I felt the Here to Serve motto explained why we met as a body of community workers, addressing the well-being of young people in our community. I found this slogan also fit my business model, since I considered it to be built more on service than sales. Once a sale is made, there must be a long-term commitment to serve client needs. My business website even opens with the phrase, Here to Serve!

Then I had an epiphany. Much of my email correspondence had nothing to do with business or Kiwanis, yet I found myself using the same signoff for personal emails as well. This prompted me to consider what I was conveying through this unique way to end all my written communications.

I realized I was communicating my desire to serve God in all my business and personal dealings. This phrase has become a constant reminder to me about what is truly important in what I do and who I am. The idea of “servant leadership” has been with us in the marketplace at least since 1977, when Robert K. Greenleaf, a retired AT&T executive, presented this concept in his book, Servant Leadership.

However, serving as a leader goes back much further. Biblical accounts show us the wonderful example Jesus Christ gave His disciples and all who have followed Him since then.

John 13 tells of Jesus removing His outer garment and wrapping a towel around His waist prior to the Passover feast. He proceeded to wash the feet of all His disciples, explaining, “I have set for you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15-17).

At another time, Jesus told His followers, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Even as God incarnate, He was willing to humbly serve others.

The past two decades of striving to serve God and others have taught me a remarkable truth. The Lord is pleased with our servant attitude and will bless more than we could ever imagine. Certainly, more than we deserve. However, I caution against considering this a strategy to gain success or become recognized for what we do. Much of what we do for others may go unnoticed. What matters is trusting our actions please God and provide timely help for others in their time of need.

Our focus in business is often on our ability, but as we commit to serve others, God’s focus is on our availability. Are you willing to make yourself available to whatever and whomever God puts in your path?

Be prepared: Some of the circumstances you face may not be ones you had in mind. We need to stay alert to any opportunities to serve, knowing that if we fail to do so, we will miss out on wonderful blessings. In serving others, we also are serving our Lord. We should cherish the fact we are providentially Here to Serve!

 Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God; his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.

.CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com

  MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

March 5, 2018

 Reflection/Discussion Questions

1.  Think of someone who has served you in a special way, perhaps recently. What was that experience like for you – and how did you respond?
2.  How easy is it for you to adopt the attitude of being a servant to others? What are some factors or obstacles that can make that difficult?
3.  What does the examples shown by Jesus Christ tell you about God’s attitude toward serving others?
4.  Do you think a servant attitude – even servant leadership – is common, or rare, in today’s workplace? Explain your answer.

 NOTE: If you would like to look at or discuss other portions of the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following passages: Proverbs 22:20-21; Matthew 20:25-28; Galatians 5:13-15; Ephesians 6:7-8; 1 Peter 4:7-10

CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com